McKinney Group Account Director Jim Reath Named Director of Retail and Shopper Marketing
Reath is also promoted to EVP and appointed to McKinney's board of directors

DURHAM, N.C., Jan. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- McKinney announced today that McKinney VP/Group Account Director Jim Reath will expand his duties at the agency to include the new position of director of retail and shopper marketing. Along with this post come a promotion to executive vice president and a seat on McKinney's board of directors.

Reath will partner with McKinney President Jeff Jones to formalize the agency's rapidly expanding retail and shopper marketing capability. "We have developed a tremendous roster of some of the nation's largest and best retailers, including Sherwin-Williams, Meijer and GNC," said Jones. "Jim understands the complexities of brand building and demand creation and the need to do both in a nimble yet highly effective way."

According to McKinney Chairman and CEO Brad Brinegar, Reath's promotion to executive vice president and appointment to the independent agency's board of directors are fitting for an agency focused on brand-reinventing ideas. "Jim is fearless when it comes to challenging the status quo. He is also someone who builds meaningful and productive client relationships the old-fashioned way: by caring—truly caring—about clients' success. And he's a passionate believer of great work."

Reath, 40, joined McKinney in 2010 from Y&R Chicago, where as chief marketing officer and head of the agency's Sears account he and his teams won two Cannes Lions and a gold Effie. He started his career at Ammirati & Puris in Canada in 1994, and four years later he went to Labatt Brewing Company. He returned to Ammirati Puris Lintas Chicago in 1999 before serving at both FCB Worldwide and JWT Chicago. He later joined Leo Burnett where he rose to senior vice president, leading accounts such as Kellogg's, Morgan Stanley, Washington Mutual and Visa. He joined Y&R in 2008.

"Retail and shopper marketing has always been a passion of mine," said Reath. "It's exciting to help McKinney build an even stronger capability with our newest and existing clients. Moreover, it is equally gratifying to join the board of one of the most highly regarded independent agencies in the business. Helping shape the agency's collective future as we continue to grow and innovate is going to be a lot of fun."

About McKinney

McKinney is an independent advertising agency leading the evolution of the advertising industry in a post-digital world.

Founded in 1969, the Durham, NC-based agency is recognized for having built one of the most innovative business models in the industry, one that blurs the lines between traditional and digital media. As a result, McKinney has been recognized as one of the best agencies in the country by Advertising Age and one of a handful of agencies setting the standard for creativity byONE Magazine. The agency's clients include GNC, Gold's Gym, Nationwide Insurance, Big Boss Brewing, Lenovo, Meijer, Ruby Tuesday, Partnership for a Drug-Free America, CenturyLink, Sherwin-Williams, Brown-Forman Corporation and Zenph Sound Innovations.